Coronavirus (COVID-19) Back to School Update – October 14, 2020

Aloha Saint Mark Parents!

I hope and pray you are doing well and enjoying the fall break.  I am writing with the latest Saint Mark updates as we prepare to get Back to School next Monday with all grades (PK3 to 8) on campus.

STABLE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS
The 7-day state average of reported new cases is 91 per day (69 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 2.7% (3.4% on O`ahu).  As has been reported previously, the hope is to keep the positivity rate below 5%.  

IMPACT/ALERT LEVELS
The state of Hawai`i is at impact level YELLOW (Act with Care – Minor Disruption) of its Reopening Navigator; the City and County of Honolulu is in TIER 1 of its Honolulu Reopening Strategy; and Saint Mark is at level GREEN in its Reopening Campus Plan.

UPDATES to SAINT MARK’S REOPENING CAMPUS PLAN (**subject to change**)
Beginning tomorrow, October 15, Governor Ige will begin allowing out-of-state travelers to Hawaii to avoid the standard 14 day travel quarantine with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Hawaii. With that, Saint Mark has updated its Reopening Campus Plan Policy and Procedures to reflect the change but has also added a requirement to help better insure the health and safety of our school community.  Should a student travel out-of-state and reenter with a negative COVID-19 test result as per the state’s policy, Saint Mark will require a minimum 5-day separation from campus and a second COVID-19 test. Should this second test return a negative result, the student would be allowed to return to campus. Those who do not wish to take such a test would quarantine at home for 14 days after returning to the state.

The exact wording is as follows: “If a Saint Mark student or any member of a student’s household returns from out-of-state travel and is not subject to a State-mandated quarantine because he/she took a 72-hour pre-travel COVID-19 test, the student must still remain off campus for 14 days unless he/she receives an additional negative COVID-19 test taken at least 5 days following his/her arrival on O’ahu.“

MASKS (Not All Are Created Equal)
As I previously shared, Duke University published a study in August looking at efficacy of different types of masks on blocking the spread respiratory droplets. The results showed that N95 masks without valves performed the best followed by surgical or polypropylene masks and cotton masks. The study found bandanas and neck fleeces (gaiters) to be the worst performers as they offered very little protection. The New York Post has a nice illustration of the best to worst performing mask.

The study also found that while masks with valves do not compromise the protection of the wearer, it can decrease protection of the person surrounding the wearer.  As a result of this study, Saint Mark requires students to refrain from wearing bandannas, neck fleeces or masks with valves to school.  

MASKS (Must Fit and Be Worn Properly)
In addition to wearing the proper type of mask, its extremely important that the masks fit properly and be worn properly if they are to provide the type of protection they are designed to provide.  Masks need to fit snugly fully covering the mouth and nose.

CASE SPECIFIC DISTANCE LEARNERS
We need all families who participated in our Case Specific Distance Learning program in the first quarter to confirm (if they haven’t already done so) their plans for the second quarter with their respective teacher(s).  We currently have some students slated to return to campus while others preferring to continue the distance learning.

READY TO PIVOT BACK to DISTANCE LEARNING
Saint Mark Lutheran School remains very attentive to the fluidity of this pandemic and will continue to carefully monitor the daily data.  While we will not be overly reactive to expected variance in community conditions, we need to be ready to quickly pivot back (cohorts or larger groups) to distance learning should a student or staff member test positive or community conditions dramatically worsen again.  

SAFETY PROTOCOLS MUST BE FOLLOWED
Saint Mark’s faculty, staff and administration remain steadfast in their adherence to all of the safety protocols and preventative strategies as detailed in the Reopening Campus Plan – Policy and Procedures and respectfully requests its students and parents to do the same.  Everyone must do their part to remain safe!

Mahalo for your continued patience and commitment in these uncertain times and please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions.  

Thank you for your time and support!

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe,

David Gaudi
Head of School